Suicide: Central Asia

(1,310 words)

Rosiya and Abdul married against the wishes of both their families. For lack of housing, they were forced to live with his parents, who treated Rosiya abominably. One day when Rosiya was nine months pregnant Abdul's mother told him their child would be illegitimate, as marriages without parental consent were invalid. Abdul was so upset, he went outside, poured gasoline over himself and set it alight. Finding him engulfed in flames, Rosiya threw herself on him. Abdul lived just long enough to see…